The world has been dealing with the century’s most shocking crisis; the Covid-19 pandemic for the last 16 months. It is something that none of us ever imagined even in our wildest nightmares. We are constantly bombarded with the news of the colossal toll the virus has taken on human lives. Needless to say, the lockdown to contain the spread of COVID-19 is having a huge impact on the people. During the lockdown, some of us are working from home whilst others are taking online classes or some are busy doing the household chores; all the while confined to the boundaries of our homes.
Due to the lockdown, there has been a paradigm shift in lifestyle habits. As a result, there is a sharp spike in the number of PCOS cases among women and it has also become difficult for women who already have PCOS. Let us see, one by one, the effect of lockdown on women suffering from PCOS:
1 - Irregularity of periods and extreme Mood swings
Many women who are battling with PCOS have experienced drastic irregularities in their menstrual cycles during the lockdown. Due to the closing of gyms, parks, and other sports complexes, women find it difficult to carry on with their regular workouts. Higher incidences of extreme mood swings are also observed in women as compared to before the lockdown.
2 - Balancing Work from Home
A lot of working women have to devote a fair amount of time sitting in front of computers, laptops and manage the household chores at the same time. This has affected the daily routine severely. As a result, women are experiencing disturbed sleep patterns, hormonal disruption, and weight gain.
3 - Mental Health
The lockdown has not only affected the physical health of women but also it has been seen that it has adversely impacted mental health. There has been an increase in the number of cases of depression, anxiety, stress, panic, and loneliness among women battling with PCOS. On the other hand, some female students have experienced a positive impact as they got to spend more time with their family which has resulted in reduced stress levels.
What can you do to combat these challenges?
Try using alternate exercise therapies which can be performed indoors like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises.
• Plan your day, make a schedule by allotting time for work as well as workouts, and follow it strictly
• Consume a balanced diet and maintain a good sleep cycle
• Absorb sunlight and fresh air
• Keep in touch with your doctor for constant monitoring
• Try doing things that make you feel happy like pursuing a hobby such as learning to play guitar, etc.
• Spend quality time with your loved ones
Conclusion: It is indeed a difficult time for everyone. But, remember that we should try to stay positive and make the most out of the situation. We must stay optimistic and take good care of our physical and mental well-being. We must focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle with an unequivocal mindset. It is said that “the flower that blooms in adversity is the rarest and beautiful of all”. So, to all the amazing cysters, I would say, constantly strive to give your best efforts and together fight this challenging situation and emerge out stronger than ever before.
Thanks. This is really helpful.
Glad it helped 🙂
Thankyou for explaining in such an easy to understand language,the problems of this disease with some alternative solution to the usual routine one should follow in the ongoing pandemic to combat this. It was actually very helpful. 🙌🏻🙌🏻
Really happy to know you found it useful 🙂
Nicely written..
All critical points affecting are taken into consideration
Thank you very much 🙂
Well explained. Very informative. Very good
Nice observation. Useful information. Keep it up.
It really helped in knowing the impacts properly!
Well written and well presented! Key points have been highlighted. Keep it up 👍 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Good Radhika.. there is lot of impact on physical and mental health of everyone around us. Being a Psychologist, we are trying our best to help people as well as taking care of ourselves. If you notice significant low mood or mood swings, it is good idea to take professional help and approach trained mental health professionals without any hesitation.